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Congressional Gold Medal

Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby presented to Major General Macomb, and, through him, to the officers and men of the regular army under his command, and to the militia and volunteers of New York and Vermont, for their gallantry and good conduct, in defeating the enemy at Plattsburg (sic) on the eleventh of September; repelling, with one thousand five hundred men, aided by a body of militia and volunteers from New York and Vermont, a British veteran army, greatly superior in number, and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematic of this triumph, and presented to Major General Macomb. -- Resolution of Congress, November 3, 1814.

Battle of Plattsburg

6-11 September 1814
—Plattsburg, NY

Although the Battle of Plattsburg (6-11 Sept 1814) was largely won by Thomas Macdonough and his naval forces against the British navy on Lake Champlain, Alexander Macomb (at the time a brigadier general) received wide acclaim for his role in successfully leading 1,500 army troops against 10,500 British during the land battle. Macomb’s troops skirmished with the British between September 6 and 11, but the British abandoned their main assault before it got seriously underway when they heard about their naval loss on Lake Champlain and retreated to Canada. Nevertheless, in addition to being promoted to major general, Macomb received the Thanks of Congress and a Congressional Gold Medal for his leadership.